The Plunkett Weekly News is the latest roundup of news from the Plunkett Foundation and news affecting co-operatives, social enterprises, farming, food and rural development.
Plunkett Weekly News 02.10.2009
Plunkett Foundation News
PLUNKETT PERSPECTIVE
This week’s perspective captures the essence of the Making Local Food Work Conference and reflects on the ‘desire to connect’ local food initiatives.
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INCREASED SUPPORT ON SKILLSHARE MENTORING PROGRAMME
Skillshare is a mentoring programme from the Making Local Food Work, Specialist Enterprise Support team and is available to community owned food businesses in England.
The aim of the support is to improve access to local food by supporting community businesses in the local food supply chain.
Food based social enterprises can now receive 24 hours of FREE, practical, hands-on support and personal development in the form of experienced mentors. This support can be provided to staff, managers and board members through face-to-face contact, visits, telephone and email. Mentors are chosen from leaders of established, successful food enterprises.
Mentoring Support includes:
• Practical support and guidance
• Sharing of knowledge and experience
• Advice on funding sources and availability
• Signposting to further information and support
• Personal development and professional support for those working in the enterprises
Organisations currently receiving support range from community owned shops, cafes and food co-ops; community supported agriculture schemes; community owned pubs; and country markets and farmers markets – seeking support and guidance in a range of areas of business setup, maintenance, and expansion. Key support areas include establishing relationships with local producers, exploring the feasibility of establishing new or additional services, managing and co-ordinating staff and volunteers, and general peer-to-peer learning.
Skillshare runs alongside Specialist Enterprise Support (technical advice and business support) and Good Governance (support with governance issues and legal structures) provided by the Plunkett Foundation and Co-operatives UK respectively as part of the Making Local Food Work programme.
If you are a food based community enterprise and are interested in applying for mentoring support, please contact James.Alcock@plunkett.co.uk or visit http://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/about/es/Skillshare.cfm
Co-operatives and Social Enterprise News
DR JOHN BUTLER TO STEP DOWN AS CO-OPERATIVES UK SECRETARY
Co-operatives UK has announced that Dr John Butler is stepping down as Secretary after 30 years with the organisation. John, who joined the Co-operative Union (now Co-operatives UK) in 1978, started his career as South West Sectional Secretary, before moving to Holyoake House, Manchester, in 1983 where he worked on consumer society mergers. In 1987, John helped to establish the Institute of Co-operative Directors (ICD) to increase knowledge and skills in the co-operative movement and improve corporate governance. John was also the Secretary of the two working groups on corporate governance which have played a significant role in improving the good governance of co-operative societies. After becoming Co-operatives UK Secretary in 2005, John worked tirelessly on consumer society mergers and corporate governance to help further promote co-operative enterprise and, as former Chair and Secretary of the UK Society for Co-operative Studies, continued his commitment to co-operative research
http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/welcome.asp?id=2983
© Cooperatives UK
PHONE CO-OP SNAPS UP NORTH EAST TELECOMS BUSINESS
The Phone Co-op has snapped up a County Durham business as part of its first move into the North East. Avoco, which provided telecoms services for almost 300 business customers across more than 400 mainly North East sites, will now transfer to the Phone Co-op. Avoco founder and chief executive, Martin Oswell, said: “We had established a strong business, but to serve our customers’ interests in the longer term we needed greater scale. “The Phone Co-op will enable them to keep their telecoms costs down and enjoy high levels of service, whilst taking full advantage of a wider product portfolio.” The deal means that the Phone Co-op now has its first base in the North East, and will be working with the local authorities, public sector organisations and small businesses that are current customers of Avoco. http://inthespotlight.uk.coop/2009/09/phone-co-op-snaps-up-north-east.html
© Cooperatives UK
LABOUR CONFERENCE: PARTY COULD REINVENT PUBLIC SERVICES - AND ITSELF - AROUND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, SAYS BYRNE
Cabinet minister Liam Byrne has highlighted a range of areas where social enterprise can assert its influence - including on the Labour party itself. Speaking at a conference fringe event run by the Social Enterprise Coalition and think-tank Demos, Byrne revealed that the Treasury would be publishing a pre-Budget report that will set out in detail public assets where there is 'opportunity to do things differently'. Byrne said there were opportunities for social entrepreneurs both in terms of reaching the markets in deprived communities that conventional business people miss, and in transforming public services. Byrne said social enterprise should not be seen as an alternative to the public sector but as a partner that will transform state services. Byrne also made a political prediction that the 'argument and ethos of the social enterprise sector will be the way the Labour party reinvents itself'. He said it would be Labour's role to connect people who are angry and want to make positive change.
http://www.socialenterpriselive.com/section/news/labour-conference-party-could-reinvent-public-services-and-itself-around-social-enterpr
© Social Enterprise Magazine
SUPPORTERS DIRECT ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2009
Supporters Direct is holding its annual conference on 16 October. The conference, which is taking place at Birmingham NEC, will welcome members from supporters' trusts across the country to discuss the current issues in football. FA Chief Executive Ian Watmore will speak at the event as will representatives from member-owned Barcelona Football Club and Europe's governing body, UEFA. The hot topic of the event will be the important role of supporter-directors at clubs. At a time where transparency of ownership in football is a hot topic, supporter-directors can play a critical role.
http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/welcome.asp?id=2992
© Cooperatives UK
LABOUR CONFERENCE: TREASURY SECRETARY ‘EXTREMELY INTERESTED’ IN COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne has revealed that the government is looking at the possibility of US-style Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), which compels banks to invest in deprived neighbourhoods. The Cabinet minister made the revelation at a Labour Conference fringe event organised by the Social Enterprise Coalition and think-tank Demos. Much CRA-related activity in the US sees banks working with, and channelling their money through, community development finance institutions, which in the UK too, lend to social enterprises and small businesses in deprived areas. Byrne said there were 'two to three issues which mark us out from America' and need to be considered in thinking about the CRA. 'We don't have evidence banks are systematically freezing out communities partly because our evidence is more flaky,' he said. 'And there are strong voices in America which argue that the CRA played a role in the sub-prime crisis. 'There are some serious questions which we are exploring now.'
http://www.socialenterpriselive.com/section/news/labour-conference-exclusive-treasury-secretary-%E2%80%98extremely-interested%E2%80%99-community-reinves
© Social Enterprise Magazine
ED BALLS CALLS FOR MORE CO-OP SCHOOLS
Schools Secretary Ed Balls has called on more schools to consider the co-operative model as he spoke of how a school and pupils can benefit from the active involvement of parents, teachers, community groups and local businesses. So far 15 co-op trusts, involving 25 schools, are up and running and Ed Balls said today that he hopes to see more than 200 schools embracing the approach over the next year. Last year the Department for Children, Schools and Families made funding available for a pilot of up to 100 Trust schools with co-operative governance models over the next two years. Schools that join the Trust Schools Programme are currently eligible to receive up to £10,000 from Government to support the costs of setting up a Trust.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2009_0160
© Department for Children, Schools and Families
SEWM ANNOUNCE STUDY VISITS
As part of the Trading Know-how project Social Enterprise West Midlands will be running a number of study visits to leading social enterprises in the West Midlands. The purpose of the visits is to transfer good practice and knowledge exchange between social enterprises and those who wish to work with them. The first five visits will be to the social enterprise Flagships, announced in July as another element of the Trading Know-how project. The first two visits will be to Marches Energy Agency (18 November) and PM Training (26 November). Places are limited to 12 people per visit and priority will given to SEWM members. To register your interest, email s.crowder@socialenterprisewm.org.uk
© Social Enterprise West Midlands
Farming and Food News
EU COMMISSION TO RECOVER EUR 214.6 MILLION OF CAP EXPENDITURE FROM THE MEMBER STATES
A total of EUR 214.6 million of EU farm money unduly spent by Member States is claimed back as a result of a decision adopted by the European Commission. The money returns to the Community budget because of non-compliance with EU rules or inadequate control procedures on agricultural expenditure. Member States are responsible for paying out and checking expenditure under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and the Commission is required to ensure that Member States have made correct use of the funds. Under this latest decision funds will be recovered from Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Slovenia.
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1375&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
© Europa
CLIMATE CHANGE PUBLICATION: IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE AND COSTS OF ADAPTATION
The accelerating pace of climate change, combined with global population and income growth, threatens food security everywhere. Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change. Although there will be gains in some crops in some regions of the world, the overall impacts of climate change on agriculture are expected to be negative, threatening global food security. Populations in the developing world, which are already vulnerable and food insecure, are likely to be the most seriously affected. A new Food Policy Report presents research results that quantify future climate-change impacts, assesses the consequences for food security, and estimates the investments that would offset the negative consequences for human well-being.
http://www.ifpri.org/publication/climate-change-impact-agriculture-and-costs-adaptation
© International Food Policy Research Institute
STRONG SIX MONTHS FOR DAIRY CREST
Shares in Dairy Crest climbed to their highest price since last October this week after a pre-close trading update revealed the company had experienced a strong first six months of the financial year. Values briefly touched £4/share before falling back to £3.90 as Farmers Weekly went to press on Wednesday 30 September. Dairy Crest chief executive Mark Allen said strong brand growth, cost control and a focus on cash generation had helped lower debt. "We believed this was the best strategy to meet the changing economic environment. Against this background we have made good progress and Dairy Crest is well positioned for the future." Dairy Crest's Interim Results will be published on 12 November 2009.
http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2009/09/30/118131/strong-six-months-for-dairy-crest.html
© Farmers Weekly
LABOUR CONFERENCE: BENN VOWS TO SUPPORT FARMERS
DEFRA secretary Hilary Benn has vowed to support UK farmers to help them meet the challenge of producing as much food as they can. Speaking at the Labour party conference in Brighton, Mr Benn said increases in population meant it was vital the British countryside produced more food. And he told delegates the government needed to continue to work with the industry to help protect soil and water to allow farmers to increase production.
"We're working together to protect the environment, beat animal diseases and tackle climate change," he said.
http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2009/09/29/118105/labour-conference-benn-vows-to-support-farmers.html
© Farmers Weekly
MILK: COMMISSION PROPOSES FURTHER MEASURES TO HELP DAIRY SECTOR IN SHORT, MEDIUM AND LONG TERM
Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, has set out in detail the latest stage of the Commission's ongoing campaign to help European Union dairy farmers out of the current market crisis. The package of measures, presented to the European Parliament, follows up the Commission's report from July and looks at both short-term measures and actions to secure the longer-term future of the dairy sector. The Commission has already started the process of allowing Member States to pay temporarily aid of up to EUR 15,000 to farmers. It also proposes that the dairy sector should be covered by an emergency clause which already exists for other farm sectors, to allow a quicker response to future market disturbances. Changes to the operation of quota buying-up schemes by Member States will make sure that bought up quota which is kept in the national reserve should no longer count as part of the national quota when it comes to deciding whether or not superlevy is due. If superlevy is then collected, the part corresponding to the bought-up quota can be used for restructuring. With a view to the longer term, the Commission will establish a working group of experts from the Member States and the Commission. This will look, among other things, at contractual relations between farmers and the dairy industry, the results of the report into the workings of the food chain in the dairy sector - which will be published before the end of the year - and the possibility of a dairy futures market.
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1333&type=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
© Europa
Rural Development News
LOW CARBON COMMUNITIES CHALLENGE
On 28 September 2009 the Low Carbon Communities Challenge was launched, a two-year programme to provide financial and advisory support to 20 ‘test-bed’ communities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that are seeking to cut carbon emissions. The findings from the Big Energy Shift public dialogue suggest that households could benefit significantly from joined-up ‘packages’ of support, delivered locally in the community, to help them reduce home energy consumption and make deep cuts in their carbon emissions. Such packages could include, for example, smart meters, home energy audits, access to local demonstration homes, leadership from local schools, businesses and public buildings, and more hands-on support navigating advice and determining which energy efficiency measures and renewable technologies are right for them. ‘The Challenge’ will allow the experiences of people living and working in communities that take part to be shared publicly, along with the quantitative data on carbon and energy savings. The information will be used to offer continuous learning and improvement, and the lessons learned will be made available to other communities across the country. The learning will also inform government's wider delivery plans on energy and climate change.
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/consumers/lc_communities/lc_communities.aspx
© Department of Energy and Climate Change
DUKE OF EDINBURGH VOICES CONCERNS OVER VILLAGE LIFE
The Duke of Edinburgh has delivered a damning assessment of country life, claiming villages are now simply populated by commuters and traditional shops have lost out to large retail centres.
Rural settlements have changed significantly from places where farm workers lived to providing second homes for those who are employed in towns and cities, the senior royal stated. The Duke's comments were made in an extensive interview for the latest edition of Shooting Times & Country Magazine where he suggested the butcher and baker had been forced out of business by multi-stores. The royal also criticised the agricultural industry, saying it was trying to create cattle that would produce more milk for less cow "like a hat-rack with an udder attached", while 'bizarrely' milk was cheaper than bottled water.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/duke-of-edinburgh-voices-concerns-over-village-life-1795459.html
© The Independent
WELCOMING PROPOSALS TO EXPAND FINANCIAL SERVICES ROLE OF THE POST OFFICE
The Commission for Rural Communities have welcomed the Government’s proposals to expand the remit of the Post Office to include banking and other financial services. This will help ensure the future sustainability of the Post Office network and has the potential to provide access to essential services such as bank accounts, savings and loans to financially excluded people in rural areas. Only 1 in 8 banks and building societies are located in rural areas although a fifth of the population live there. We hope today’s announcement will also prompt the exploration of partnerships between the Post Office and credit unions to assist financial inclusion in rural areas.
http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/events/welcomingproposalstoexpandfinancialservicesroleofthepostoffice
© Commission for Rural Communities
INDICATORS OF POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN RURAL ENGLAND: 2009
The Commission for Rural Communities have published a new report 'Indicators of Poverty and Social Exclusion in Rural England: 2009' which uses the most current data available to present a range of key indicators of poverty and social exclusion in rural England in comparison with the equivalent data for urban areas. In total, there are 37 indicators grouped into 7 sections focusing respectively on low income, work, education, health, housing, services and community. Of the 36 comparable indicators the report highlights that:
- In 12 indicators rural and urban percentages are similar or the difference is mixed
- In 11 indicators rural percentages are somewhat better than in urban areas
- In 9 indicators rural percentages are much better than their urban equivalents
- In 4 indicators rural percentages are worse than in urban areas
http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/events/iindicatorsofpovertyandsocialexclusioninruralengland2009
© Commission for Rural Communities
THIRD SECTOR RESEARCH CENTRE WEBSITE NOW LIVE
The Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC) website has now been launched. TSRC offers third sector organisations and policy-makers access and input into robust research, aiming to bridge the gap between research and the third sector. Working closely with practitioners and policy makers, they are analysing the difference the sector makes. In all our research, we are informed by a strong theoretical and conceptual analysis of the sector. The Centre is a collaborative venture by the Universities of Birmingham and Southampton, with contributions from Middlesex and Kent. It is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, Office of the Third Sector and Barrow Cadbury Trust.
http://www.tsrc.ac.uk/About/Governance/AdvisoryBoard/tabid/588/Default.aspx
© Third Sector Research Centre
EU HEALTHY EATING CAMPAIGN "THE TASTY BUNCH": A NEW INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND BALANCED DIET AMONG KIDS
Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, has launched a new Healthy Eating Campaign for European school children. Under the slogan "Eat it, Drink it, Move it" three roadshows will tour seven European countries, giving children a chance to take part in educational activities and games. The European Commission also launched an interactive website, competitions and other events with one key goal in mind: to change children's eating habits for the better. The Healthy Eating Campaign will run alongside the EU's School Fruit Scheme and School Milk Scheme, important initiatives for a more balanced diet and healthier eating habits amongst children. Over the course of eight weeks, the roadshow will travel through Belgium, France, the UK, Ireland, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. Each roadshow will visit two schools a day. In total the healthy eating activities will reach 18,000 kids in 180 schools. http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1366&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
© Europa
International News
MEXICO - SUCCESSFUL ORGANISATIONAL LEARNING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION - NEW PUBLICATION
Since the 1980s, developing countries’ agriculture has become more complex and diversified. In general, the public research and extension institutions in these countries were criticized for not participating in the emergence of the most dynamic agricultural markets. In recent years, many of these institutions have struggled to adapt to the new environment but they could not overcome the hurdles posed by organizational rigidities, strict public regulations, deteriorating human capital, shrinking budgets and a model of science that hampered their integration into dynamic innovation processes. Using a different set of instruments, the Mexican Produce Foundations (PF) had major and diverse impacts on the agricultural innovation and research systems. These impacts resulted mostly from activities the PF introduced as they learned to manage funds for research and extension, and to a lesser extent from the activities they were created for, i.e., manage a competitive fund for agricultural research and extension. This document analyzes what role different factors played in the Mexican experience.
http://www.ifpri.org/publication/successful-organizational-learning-management-agricultural-research-and-innovation
© International Food Policy Research Institute
AMERICA - RECESSION IN RURAL AMERICA BY NUMBERS
The recession has “plunged 2.6 million more Americans into poverty, wiped out the household income gains of an entire decade and pushed the number of people without health insurance up to 46.3 million,” according to the Washington Post. The latest Census Bureau figures do not indicate whether the recession is better or worse in rural America. The Economic Research Service report outlines key figures in relation to Recession and Employment, Rural High Cost Loans, Rising Poverty, Children, Home Ownership and Population shifts.
For further details in the report visit: http://www.stumbleupon.com/s/#1EbZ2G/www.dailyyonder.com/recession-rural-america-numbers/2009/09/13/2344/
© Main Street Economics
EUROPE - ERASMUS FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a European exchange programme aimed at helping new entrepreneurs to acquire relevant skills for managing a small or medium-sized enterprise by spending time (1 to 6 months) in an enterprise managed by an experienced entrepreneur in another European country. Co-operatives Europe and the other 7 European partners of the consortium Co-op Erasmus have been selected to be Intermediary organisations. Intermediary organisations help new and host entrepreneurs in getting in contact and assist them during the relationship. This is a great opportunity for the co-operative movement. Firstly, this project responds to a need which our businesses have been expressing several times in the past. Secondly, this is another official recognition of co-operatives as key actors in the European economy and lastly, it is a great chance to foster the creation of new co-operative businesses and to enable our co-operatives to gain an international dimension. Further information can be found on the programme portal: http://www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu . If you have contacts with any entrepreneurs who would like to participate in the programme either as a Host or as a New Entrepreneur, or if your organization would like to become an Intermediary Organization, please contact m.nodari@coopseurope.coop .
http://www.coopseurope.coop/spip.php?article747
© Co-ops Europe
GHANA - MAKING DEVELOPMENT HAPPEN IN GHANA'S EASTERN CORRIDOR
The residents of Chamba, a village in a remote corner of Northern Ghana are passionate about their savings. Each Friday, villagers engage in lively trading with traders from all over the country in their local market square. Ignored by traditional banks, the 6,000 people living in and around Chamba - farmers, petty traders, shopkeepers and animal raisers included - used to bury what profits they made in the ground, or gave them to the local Catholic priest for safe keeping. In 2004, villagers pondered the possibility of establishing their own financial institution - a local credit union - to safeguard and grow their savings and access credit to finance their business activities. They turned to SEND-Ghana, a West African development agency which has developed agricultural co-operatives and credit unions in that part of Ghana with financial support from the Canadian Co-operative Association. The idea took hold. In 2005, the Chamba Community Co-operative Credit Union opened its doors with just nine members. It was a modest beginning, but in less than four years this fledgling financial service provider has become far and away the fastest growing credit union in the Eastern Corridor of Northern Ghana. Last year's membership reached 369 members - a growth of almost 150% from the year before.
© Canadian Cooperative Association
AMERICA- INTEREST IN FARMERS MARKETS IS GROWING
More neighbourhood farmers markets, where consumers can buy fruit and vegetables from local producers, are cropping up across the USA. Over the past decade, farmers markets have increased 71%, U.S. Department of Agriculture figures show. In July, the department reported that nearly 4,900 markets operate nationwide, up about 5% from the end of last year. Farmers markets got a high-profile boost this month when first lady Michelle Obama gave a speech at the opening of a market in Washington. Obama has made locally grown produce part of her push to get Americans to eat healthier by planting her own garden at the White House.
Scares over food safety and worries about how trucking produce long distances adds to global warming have helped spur interest.
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2009-09-27-farmers-markets_N.htm
© USA Today